Storage, educational and sales promotion device and system for collectable decorative items

ABSTRACT

A device for storing and displaying collectable items while simultaneously providing information concerning the collectable items therein is disclosed. The device includes a container having peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and which define an open enclosure having an open top. A removable lid is provided and has an outer surface and an inner surface, the lid being sized and shaped to selectively cover the open top to enclose the container. At least one divider element is disposed in the container on the bottom member to define interior compartments open to the open top. A plurality of collectable items are each removably positioned in one compartment. Finally, a plurality of identification members are disposed on the lid inner surface and are arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized collectable items, each identification member having educational information concerning the particular collectable item disposed in the corresponding compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to storage devices and, more particularly, to devices for storing and displaying collectable items such as holiday decorations. Specifically, the present invention relates to a storage and promotional sales device particularly applicable to unique Christmas ornaments for use in promotional and fund raising sales.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Many types of organizations use promotional items for sales to fund raise for that particular organization. Well known examples include the Girl Scouts of America and their annual cookie promotion and sales drive, church bazaars, school and church youth group car washes, church and school raffles, and the like. There remains a constant need for new and different types of items and things for use in such fund raising activities. Collectables can be used for such sales promotions and fund raising activities. However, there needs to be a container or storage box of some type that is adapted for such a particular use. Moreover, this container should serve an additional educational purpose as well if it is to be particularly useful in such types of fund raising activities.

[0005] Many different types and sizes of devices have been developed and used over the years for the storage of collectables such as sports cards and memorabilia, holiday decorations, photographs, and other types of collectable items. Many devices are simply containers for storage such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,407 for Christmas decorations and lights. Still others are used for both storage as well as displaying the items stored such as the trading card carrying and display case illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,712. While such items as cards are readily adapted for such a case, other types of collectable items which are larger and have greater dimensions, such as Christmas tree ornaments, are not easily displayed in the same case that carries or stores them.

[0006] Still other types of containers or boxes are constructed for illustrating or clearly indicating the items stored therein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,005 discloses such a container wherein photograph albums are stored, and the case is adapted to illustrate the types of photos contained therein. Other types of containers for packaging goods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,530. None of these devices are particularly designed to educate or inform a person using the container regarding the collectable items stored therein, such as the history of or meaning behind the collectable item, and the like.

[0007] Thus, there remains a need for such a storage, educational and sales promotion device and system for collectable decorative items. The present invention addresses this significant problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a storage container for collectable items which is designed to educate regarding the collectable items stored therein.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a sales promotion device for collectable items which is particularly adapted for fund raising use.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a Christmas decoration storage and informational device for unique decorations and which may be used for promotional purposes.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a Christmas ornament storage and promotional sales device wherein unique Christmas ornaments made from naturally occurring pinecones are stored in a manner conducive to use by organizations for promotional sales.

[0012] To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a device for storing and displaying collectable items while simultaneously providing information concerning the collectable items therein is disclosed. The device includes a container having peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and which define an open enclosure having an open top. A removable lid is provided and has an outer surface and an inner surface, the lid being sized and shaped to selectively cover the open top to enclose the container. At least one divider element is disposed in the container on the bottom member to define interior compartments open to the open top. A plurality of collectable items are each removably positioned in one compartment. Finally, a plurality of identification members are disposed on the lid inner surface and are arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized collectable items, each identification member having educational information concerning the particular collectable item disposed in the corresponding compartment.

[0013] In one modification of the invention, the device includes a plurality of adjustable divider elements sized and shaped to create a plurality of selectively variable sized compartments corresponding to the size of the collectable items. The identification member may be in the form of a sleeve element attached to the lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within the sleeve element, the card member having the educational information thereon. In a further modification, the educational information on each card member includes a pictorial representation of the corresponding collectable item and factual information concerning the same. Moreover, the card member may be color coded to its corresponding collectable item.

[0014] In one form of the invention, the collectable items are holiday decorations. In one instance, the collectable holiday decorations are Christmas ornaments. In a still another modification, these Christmas ornaments may be in the form of pinecones from variable species of trees, each pinecone having a hook element attached to the upper end thereof. In this instance, the identification member includes information about the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived. Finally, the hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification member may be color-coded.

[0015] In another modification of the invention, a Christmas decoration storage and promotional sales device is disclosed. This device includes a receptacle having a plurality of peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open top. A lid is pivotally secured to the upper edge of a peripheral wall and is sized and shaped to selectively cover the open top to enclose the receptacle, the lid having an outer surface and an inner surface. At least one divider element is disposed in the receptacle on the bottom member to define a plurality of interior compartments open to the open top. A plurality of Christmas decorations are removably positioned in the compartments, one to a compartment. Finally, a plurality of identification members are disposed on the inner surface of the lid and are arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized decorations, each identification member having educational information concerning the particular decoration disposed in the corresponding compartment. In one form of this modification, the receptacle is shaped in the form of a rectangle and is colored and decorated for sale promotion to identify the organization selling the same, the name of the organization being placed on the lid outer surface.

[0016] In yet another modification of the invention, a promotional apparatus is disclosed for storing and displaying decoration items while simultaneously providing educational information concerning the decoration items therein for sales promotion and fund raising by an organization. The apparatus may preferably include a receptacle having a plurality of peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open top. A lid is pivotally secured to the upper edge of one of the peripheral walls and is sized and shaped to selectively cover the open top to enclose the receptacle. The lid has an outer surface and an inner surface with the outer surface being color coordinated to identify the organization which is selling and promoting the apparatus. A plurality of divider elements are disposed in the receptacle on the bottom member to define a plurality of interior compartments open to the open top. A plurality of decoration items are then provided, each being removably positioned in one of the compartments. A plurality of identification members are then disposed on the lid inner surface and are arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized decoration items. Each identification member has educational information thereon in the form of pictorial representations and factual information concerning the particular decoration item disposed in the corresponding compartment.

[0017] In one aspect of this modification, the divider elements are adjustable and may be sized and shaped to create a plurality of selectively variable sized compartments corresponding to the size of the decoration items to be displayed and stored therein. Moreover, each identification member may be in the form of a sleeve element attached to the lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within the sleeve element, the card member having the educational information thereon.

[0018] In this modification, the decoration items may comprise Christmas ornaments in the form of pinecones from variable species of trees. In this instance, each pinecone has a hook element attached to the upper end thereof for hanging from a Christmas tree. Moreover, each of the card members includes information about and a pictorial representation of the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived. The hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification card member may be color-coded to assist in matching each pinecone ornament with its appropriate compartment and identification card member. Finally, the name of the organization selling and promoting the apparatus is disposed on the outer surface of the lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a container device constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an alternate container embodiment of the present invention having its lid in a fully open position and illustrating the coordination of the information bearing members with the items contained in the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring first to FIG. 1, a device 10 is illustrated for storing and displaying collectable items while also providing information concerning the items therein. Specifically, this particular embodiment is in the form of a receptacle or container 12 having a front wall 14, a rear wall 16, and a pair of sidewalls 18, 20. The walls 14-20 are supported on a bottom member 22 so as to preferably form a substantially rectangular-shaped container 12. It should be understood, however, that the container 12 may be in any shape or size, although a preferred form is a rectangle approximately 8.75″ wide ×6.25″ deep ×2″ high.

[0023] A removable lid 24 is provided to cover the open top of the container 12. In one preferred form, the lid 24 includes a top portion 26 and a front lip portion 28. The top portion 24 includes an outer surface 30 and an inner surface 32, and the lid 24 is preferably pivotally attached along its back edge 34 to the top edge of the rear wall 16. While it is preferred to secure the lid 24 in the aforementioned pivotal fashion to the rear wall 16, it should be understood that the lid 24 may be removably secured in any other manner or it may be entirely removable from the rest of the container 12. The front lip 28 is arranged to overlap the front wall 14 when the lid 24 is in a closed position, thereby securing the contents of the container 12 therewithin.

[0024] At least one and preferably a plurality of divider elements 36 are disposed within the interior of the container 12 as defined by the wall members 14-20. In one preferred form, at least one pair of divider elements 38, 40 are disposed within the receptacle 12 at substantially right angles to each other thereby forming a plurality of compartments 41, and preferably four compartments 42, 44, 46 and 48 in the illustrated embodiment. It should be understood, however, that any number of divider elements 36 of varying sizes may be utilized with the present invention so as to provide any desired number of compartments 41 of varying sizes depending on the size and shape of the collectable items to be contained therein.

[0025] Collectable items 50 are then placed in the compartments 41 for storage and display therein. Moreover, the collectable items 50 may be removed from the storage compartments 41 and placed in a desired location for use and/or display. When it is desired to terminate such use, they are replaced in their appropriate compartment as discussed below. An added feature of the present invention is that information concerning each collectable item 50 is provided and clearly displayed in the container 12. The information is displayed by providing a plurality of identification members 52 disposed on the inner surface 32 of the top lid portion 26. The identification members 52 are arranged in a fashion so that each individual identification member 52 corresponds with a single compartment 41 and displays information about the specific collectable item 50 in that particular compartment.

[0026] While the identification members 52 may take any type of desired form, one preferred embodiment involves each identification member 52 including a clear sheath or sleeve element 54 mounted to the surface 32 and a card member 56 slidably insertable into the sleeve 54. In this manner, the card member 56 can be changed if a different collectable item 50 is placed in the corresponding compartment 41. The sleeve element 54 is clear so that the information on the card member 56 may be easily observed and read. Additionally, the information on the card member 56 preferably includes written or typed information 58 along with a pictorial representation 60 either in the form of an actual picture or a drawing of the collectable item which corresponds with the appropriate identification member 52. In this manner, the device 10 not only acts as a storage and display container, but it also educates the user of the device 10 with respect to detailed information concerning the various collectable items 50 therein.

[0027] While the present invention is envisioned for use with any type of collectable item 50, such as ornaments, other holiday decorations, sports collection cards, other types of sports memorabilia, and the like, a preferred embodiment of the invention involves the use of the device as a container for collectable Christmas ornaments. More particularly, the present invention involves the use of various different types of pinecones made into Christmas ornaments and stored in the receptacle 12. Referring to the preferred embodiment, a plurality of different types of pinecones 62, 64, 66 and 68 are made into Christmas ornaments by drilling a hole 70 through the top end of each pinecone 62-68 and then placing a hook element 72 therethrough. Thus, the pinecones 62-68 may be readily hung from a Christmas tree. Moreover, the pinecones 62-68 may also be painted or otherwise decorated as desired.

[0028] Each pinecone 62-68 is retained in its corresponding compartment 42-48 when in storage. The card members 56 of the identification members 52 contain pictorial representations 60 of a particular pinecone as well as the species of tree from which it is derived, while the information 58 of the card member 56 provides factual data regarding the particular species of tree and pinecone. For example, the pinecone 64 in the compartment 44 is a pinecone from the Jack Pine, while the pinecone 62 in the compartment 42 is a Longhorn Pine pinecone. In this manner, a great deal of information concerning the particular pinecones and their tree species may be dispensed to a user of the device 10.

[0029] There are many different species of trees that produce unique pinecones useful with the present invention. These species are generally divided into two subcategories which include Eastern Native Conifers and Northwest Native Conifers. The Eastern Native Conifers include the following: Eastern White Pine; Lobolly Pine; Red Pine; Shortleaf Pine; Virginia Pine; Pitch Pine; Table Mountain Pine; Jack Pine; Tamarack; Black Spruce; Red Spruce; White Spruce; Eastern Hemlock; Balsam Fir; Northern White Cedar; Atlantic White Cedar; Eastern Red Cedar; Creeping Juniper; Common Juniper; and the American Yew. The Northwest Native Conifers include the following: Coast Redwood; Lodgepole Pine; Knobcone Pine; Ponderosa Pine; Jeffrey Pine; Sugar Pine; Western White Pine; Limber Pine; Whitebark Pine; Alpine Larch; Western Larch; Rocky Mountain Juniper; Western Juniper; Modoc Cypress; Port Orford Cedar; Alaska Yellow Cedar; Western Red Cedar; Incense Cedar; Subalpine Fir; Noble Fir; Red Fir; White Fir; Pacific Silver Fir; Grand Fir; Douglas Fir; Sitka Spruce; Weeping Spruce; Englemann Spruce; Mountain Hemlock; Western Hemlock; and the Pacific Yew.

[0030] The device 10 of the present invention is particularly adaptable for use in the promotion of sales for fund raising activities. For example, the Boy Scouts of America has a long tradition of camping and knowledge of the woods along with plant and tree species found in the woods. The device 10 of the present invention may be utilized to provide sales for Boy Scout fund raising, much like the cookie sales for Girl Scouts, by selling the device 10 having many different species of pinecones and detailed information relating to the same. The device 10 may be colored to reflect the colors traditionally associated with the Boy Scouts, and the Boy Scout emblem or other identifying insignia may also be placed on the outer surface 30 of the lid 24. In this manner, the device 10 with the specific pinecone collectables therein may be identified with a particular organization, in this instance the Boy Scouts. Thus, the device 10 not only educates people about the various species of pinecones and trees bearing the same, but it also provides attractive collectable Christmas tree ornaments for use during the Christmas season. It also acts as a fund raising activity for the organization selling the same.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, a device 10′ is illustrated similar to the device 10 of FIG. 1, similar parts having similar numeric identification. The device 10′ also illustrates the storing and displaying of various different types of collectable items 50, represented by the various different shapes 74, 76 and 78. The device 10′ also provides information concerning the items therein. Specifically, this particular embodiment is in the form of a receptacle or container 12 having a front wall 14, a rear wall 16, and a pair of sidewalls 18, 20. The walls 14-20 are supported on a bottom member 22 so as to preferably form a substantially rectangular-shaped container 12. A removable lid 24 also includes a top portion 26 and a front lip portion 28, all similar to the previous embodiment of FIG. 1. The top portion 24 includes an inner surface 32, and the lid 24 is preferably pivotally attached along its back edge 34 to the top edge of the rear wall 16.

[0032] At least one and preferably a plurality of divider elements 36 are disposed within the interior of the container 12 as defined by the wall members 14-20 forming a plurality of compartments 41. Collectable items 50 are then placed in the compartments 41 for storage and display therein. Similar to the previous embodiment, the collectable items 50 may be removed from the storage compartments 41 and placed in a desired location for use and/or display. When it is desired to end such use, they are replaced in their appropriate compartments as illustrated.

[0033] As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an added feature of the present embodiment is that information concerning each collectable item 74, 76 and 78 is provided and clearly displayed in the container 12. The information is displayed by providing a plurality of identification members 52 disposed on the inner surface 32 of the top lid portion 26. The identification members 52 are arranged in a fashion so that each individual identification member 52 corresponds with a single compartment 41 and displays information about the specific collectable item 74, 76 or 78 in that particular compartment. As in the prior embodiment, each identification member 52 includes a clear sleeve element and a card member slidably insertable into the sleeve, the information on the card member including written or typed information 58 along with a pictorial representation 60 either in the form of an actual picture or a drawing of the collectable item 74, 76 or 78 which corresponds with the appropriate identification member 52. In this manner the device 10′ can be used to store and display any types of collectable items 74, 76, 78 along with information concerning the same. Moreover, the device 10′ can also be used as a sales promotion device for fund raising for virtually any type of organization with any type of collectable items similar to the device 10 as described above.

[0034] As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a unique storage container device for collectable items which is designed to educate people regarding the collectable items stored therein, such as the history of or meaning behind the collectable item. Moreover, the present invention provides a unique sales promotion device for collectable items which is particularly adapted for fund raising use by various types of organizations. Additionally, the present invention provides a Christmas decoration storage and informational device for unique decorations which may also be used for promotional purposes. Finally, the present invention provides a Christmas ornament storage and promotional sales device wherein unique Christmas ornaments made from naturally occurring pinecones of various species are stored in a manner conducive to use by organizations for promotional sales.

[0035] The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and alternate embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the foregoing description of the present invention is exemplary only, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

I claim:
 1. A device for storing and displaying collectable items while simultaneously providing information concerning the collectable items therein, said device comprising: a container having peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open enclosure having an open top; a removable lid having an outer surface and an inner surface and being sized and shaped to selectively cover said open top to enclose said container; a plurality of collectable items each removably positioned in one said compartment; and a plurality of identification members disposed on said lid inner surface and arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized collectable items, each identification member having educational information concerning the particular collectable item disposed in the corresponding compartment.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device includes at least one adjustable divider element disposed in said container on said bottom member sized and shaped to create a plurality of selectively variable sized compartments open to said open top and corresponding to the size of the collectable items.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said identification member comprises a sleeve element attached to said lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within said sleeve element, said card member having said educational information thereon.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the educational information on each said card member includes a pictorial representation of the corresponding collectable item and factual information concerning the same.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said card member is color coded to its corresponding collectable item.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collectable items comprise holiday decorations.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said collectable items comprise Christmas ornaments.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said Christmas ornaments comprise pinecones from variable species of trees, each said pinecone having a hook element attached to the upper end thereof, and wherein said identification member includes information about the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification member are color-coded.
 10. A Christmas decoration storage and promotional sales device comprising: a receptacle having a plurality of peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open top; a lid pivotally secured to the upper edge of a peripheral wall and sized and shaped to selectively cover said open top to enclose said receptacle, said lid having an outer surface and an inner surface; a plurality of Christmas decorations each removably positioned in one said compartment; and a plurality of identification members disposed on said lid inner surface and arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized decorations, each identification member having educational information concerning the particular decoration disposed in the corresponding compartment.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device includes at least one adjustable divider element disposed in said receptacle on said bottom member sized and shaped to create a plurality of selectively variable sized compartments open to said open top and corresponding to the size of the Christmas decorations to be displayed and stored therein.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each said identification member comprises a sleeve element attached to said lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within said sleeve element, said card member having said educational information thereon.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said Christmas decorations comprise pinecones from variable species of trees, each said pinecone having a hook element attached to the upper end thereof, and wherein said identification member includes information about the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification member are color-coded to assist in matching each pinecone ornament with its appropriate compartment and identification member.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said receptacle is shaped in the form of a rectangle and is colored and decorated for sale promotion to identify the organization selling the same, the name of the organization being placed on said lid outer surface.
 16. A promotional apparatus for storing and displaying decoration items while simultaneously providing educational information concerning the decoration items therein for sales promotion and fund raising by an organization, said apparatus comprising: a receptacle having a plurality of peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open top; a lid pivotally secured to the upper edge of one said peripheral wall and sized and shaped to selectively cover said open top to enclose said receptacle, said lid having an outer surface and an inner surface with said outer surface being color coordinated to identify the organization selling and promoting said apparatus; a plurality of decoration items each removably positioned in one said compartment; and a plurality of identification members disposed on said lid inner surface and arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized decoration items, each identification member having educational information in the form of pictorial representations and factual information concerning the particular decoration item disposed in the corresponding compartment.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said device includes a plurality of divider elements disposed in said receptacle on said bottom member to define a plurality of interior compartments open to said open top, said divider elements being adjustable and sized and shaped to create a plurality of selectively variable sized compartments corresponding to the size of the decoration items to be displayed and stored therein.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each said identification member comprises a sleeve element attached to said lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within said sleeve element, said card member having said educational information thereon.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said decoration items comprise Christmas ornaments in the form of pinecones from variable species of trees, each said pinecone having a hook element attached to the upper end thereof for hanging from a Christmas tree, and wherein each said card member includes information about and a pictorial representation of the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification card member are color-coded to assist in matching each pinecone ornament with its appropriate compartment and identification card member.
 21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the name of the organization selling and promoting said apparatus is disposed on said lid outer surface.
 22. A Christmas ornament storage and promotional sales device comprising: a receptacle having a plurality of peripheral walls supported by a bottom member and defining an open top; a lid pivotally secured to the upper edge of a peripheral wall and sized and shaped to selectively cover said open top to enclose said receptacle, said lid having an outer surface and an inner surface; a plurality of Christmas ornaments removably positioned in said compartments, each said ornament being in the form of a pinecone from variable species of trees with each said pinecone having a hook element attached to the upper end thereof.
 23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said device further comprises at least one divider element disposed in said receptacle on said bottom member to define a plurality of interior compartments open to said open top, and a plurality of identification members disposed on said lid inner surface and arranged to correspond with the compartmentalized pinecone ornaments, each identification member having educational information about and a pictorial representation of the specific corresponding pinecone and the species of tree from which it is derived.
 24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein each said identification member comprises a sleeve element attached to said lid inner surface and a card member sized and shaped for removable attachment within said sleeve element, said card member having said educational information and pictorial representation thereon.
 25. The device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the hook of each pinecone ornament and the corresponding identification card member are color-coded to assist in matching each pinecone ornament with its appropriate compartment and identification member. 